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Duckworth (song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Duckworth
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| artist = Kendrick Lamar
| album = Damn
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| recorded = 2017
| studio = Windmark Studios, Jungle City Studios
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"'Duckworth'" (stylized as "'DUCKWORTH.'") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, taken from his fourth studio album 'Damn', released on April 14, 2017. The fourteenth and final track on the album (first on the 'Collector's Edition' of 'Damn'), the lyrics were written by Lamar while the music was written by record producer Patrick Douthit, known professionally as 9th Wonder, with additional production by Bkon.
The song's title is Lamar's actual last name, Lamar being his middle name. The song tells the true story of Lamar's father meeting Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, years prior to Lamar getting signed to his record label.
Lyrics
The song uses storytelling to tell the connection of Lamar with his father, Kenny "Ducky" Duckworth, and his TDE label-boss, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. Specifically, the song tells the story about Top Dawg's previous encounters with Ducky, many years prior to Top Dawg signing Lamar to his label.
More specifically, it tells the story of how Top Dawg and Ducky were gangbangers. When he was younger, Top Dawg frequented the KFC where Ducky worked; this is the same KFC that Top Dawg had stuck up a few years prior, where he killed a manager, and maybe even a few customers. Ducky found out about this, and made sure he stood on Top Dawg's good side: giving him free chicken, extra biscuits, etc. When Top Dawg did eventually hold up the restaurant again, he and his cohorts made sure not to kill Ducky. If it weren't for these events and circumstances, Kendrick Lamar states he would have died in a gunfight without the positive influence of his father.
The song, like "Fear", another track from 'Damn', incorporates "backwards vocals", also known as backmasking.
Critical reception
Teddy Craven of 'The Daily Campus' described "Duckworth" as 'Damn'
The song attracted attention of media in the former Yugoslavia due to its sample of "Ostavi trag" ("Leave a Mark") by Yugoslav jazz-rock band September.
Samples
The song contains samples of "Atari" by Hiatus Kaiyote, "Ostavi trag" by September, "Let the Drums Speak" by Fatback Band, and "Be Ever Wonderful" by Ted Taylor. 9th Wonder sampled "Mole on the Dole" by Climax Blues Band for the track's drums.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the official 'Damn' digital booklet.
*Kendrick Duckworth songwriter
*Patrick Douthit songwriter, producer, mixing
*Bkon additional production, additional vocals
*Kid Capri additional vocals
*Derek Ali mixing
*Tyler Page mixing, mix assistant
*Cyrus Taghipour mix assistant
*Zeke Mishanec additional recording
*Brendan Silas Perry additional recording
Charts
Certifications
References
Category:2017 songs
Category:Kendrick Lamar songs
Category:Songs written by Kendrick Lamar
Category:Songs written by 9th Wonder
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